Zoomorphic dance crest "aku onu" ·  Nigeria, Jukun · ID: 3043976

Description

wood, bpigments, base

Dance crests „aku onu“ are one of the most abstract ones known in Africa. Worn vertically, it becomes anthropomorphic, with holes for the eyes, a long nose, a chignon at the front element, and a projecting chin beneath. Held horizontally, the mask turns into an animal with perforated elliptical horns with geometric patterns and a gaping mouth. During the ceremony, this mask was worn between the vertical and horizontal position, producing combining human and animal features.

The object Zoomorphic dance crest “aku onu” with the object ID 3043976 was last part of the auction 89th Tribal Art Auction at July 7, 2018 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 293 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,000.

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Comparing literature

Lebas, Alain (ed.), Arts of Nigeria in French Private Collections, Milan 2012, ill. 160

Publications

van de Velde, Lucien & Joanna Teunen, From Benue River to Niger Delta, Antwerp 2012

AHDRC: 0153709